Bottle handler having pivoted jaws



July 25, 1950 w. H. MERCER I BOTTLE HANDLER HAVING Pivo'rED JAWS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 29, 1949 Inventor Warren H. Mercer July 25, 1950 w. H. MERCER BOTTLE HANDLER HAVING PIVOTED JAWS -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1949 Inventor Warren H. Mercer Patented July 25, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TBGTTLE )HANDLER HAVING .PI'VOEEED Warren H. Mercer, Anaheim, Calif., assignor of fifty per cent to Israel H, Harris and Virginia V. Harris, Huntington Park, Calif.

Apliiicatianfipnil 29, 1949, Serial No. 90,487

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to .novel and useful improvements in bottle .holders.

.An object of this invention is to support .the neckof a bottle or other .container day means .oI-a frame which has an open ,end .for receiving the neck of a container, .the bottle neck being insertable in the open :end and clamped in ,place .by means of a number of iaws which are pivoted .at their outer ends or the ends which would .be closest to the body of the container and which move inwardly at the tops thereof adjacent the bottle :cap.

.Another ob-j ectof this invention is -.to automatically lock the jaws in the bottle engaging or closed position :by an improved roam arrangement whereby the jaws may be swung -pivotally in an outward direction with respect to .the neck of a bottle'up'on release of the .camoperated locking device, which locking device is adapted to be operated by the same hand of (an individual which supports the entire frame.

Another object of this invention is to oppose the operation of the locking :means by a :resilient member'and also oppose theoperation-of the-jaws by other resilient members which react on the jaws and another-portion :of the .irame.

Ancillarycbjects and -features of .novelty will become apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description :of the preferred term of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 11 is-an-elevational view-of *the invention, portions being broken away in section to -i1lustra-te detail of construction;

Figure 2 is a view similar to that shown in 1 Figure 1, showing a second -operative position of the parts;

Figure '3 is 'a fragmentary elevational view showing the handles which'are used in conjunction wit-hand form part of the invention;

Figure 4 is a transverse-sectional view taken-on the line 4-6 of Figure :1 and in :the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal --seetional v-iew'of the preferred form "of the invention Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the jaws used in conjunction \with the invention;

Figure '7 is a transverse view taken substantially onthe line"l of .Flgurefi and in the direction of the arrows, and;

Figure .3 is a bottom plan. view .of .the device shown in Figure 1.

This invention is adapted FfQl useinlif-ting and holding containers of various types, particularly those having reduced necks such --as large jars,

bottlesand .thelike. The operation of the invention is such that by merely pulling one handle with respect .to the .other by the .same hand, the bottle neck may be inserted in ,a throat portion. By releasing the .handle and allowing it to return by means of a spring operation, the bottle .ncc'k becomes firmly clamped inthe throat for holding and lifting. In order .to release the .bottle it is only necessary .toraise .one handle with respect to the other against the operation of thesaidspring, this in turn operating to release .a number of pivoted jawsso that the .bottle neck may simply slide from the said throat.

The container litter .and holder .I-rame ,III is composed .of any suitable material preterably primarily metallic. The said .frame consists of various parts including va block 12 which has an inner sleeve M and an 401M381 sleeve 16 over the said inner sleeve anda .cap plate til-B disposed at the top .of the block. The said .block 12 is appreciably shorter than hoth sleeves and since it is disposed therein, .the lower part of the sleeve is open thereby forming a chamb.er. 2ll.

A 'passage .22 extends centrally through the block 12 and also through the cover plate I8. Dispose-d [in this passage forreciprocating movement is a rod 24 which .has .a handle .26 carried by one end thereof by any suitable .means such as a threaded, riveted, or welded connection. The handle 2.6 seats on the cover plate and is normally pressed .thereagainst by the .action of a spring 28 which .reacts .on the cover ,plate and the rod 24, to which one end of the spring is attached. Hence, upon lifting the handle .15 the rod-Z4 will be slidably actuated thereby compressing the spring and thereby opposing the operation of the .rod always tending to return it until the handle is at rest on the plate l8.

Alguide plate '30 isdisposed within the chamber 2-9 andhasazcentnal aperture through which the rod passes.

Inorder that a bottle or other type of container may be lifted, .held-andreleased by one hand 01 a person, .a second handle ;32 is carried by the outer sleeve 15 andis held in ,place ,by a suitable means such as spot welding, or by .the use of screws, rivets or the like. The said handles '28 and i2 are-in nested relationship with each other thereby rendering it convenient to operate the handleifi and .to actually'hold the entire frame it by .one hand.

.Aring or retainer 32 is maintained at a spaced position with respect to the .block 12 bya specific means provided for this purpose. The said specific means includes a number of :arms 1-34 which are fixed at one end to the sleeves and which are fixed at the other end to the retainer 32. The said retainer 32 is appreciably larger in diameter than the sleeves and since the arms 34 are substantially straight, a flared throat portion is supplied. Strengthening members 36 are fixed to the outer surfaces of each of the arms 34 in order to have a rigid structure at this point. A number of jaws, one of which is shown in Figure 6, are pivoted at their outer ends and specifically to the retainer 32. Accordingly, the jaws are fixed at their outer ends with respect to having their pivot axes at the retainer 32 but are allowed arcuate travel at the. other ends thereof which in this instancewill be the inner ends with respect to the throat or bottle receiving opening.

The jaws consist of strips 38 having bights 4!) at the lower ends thereof which are disposed around the retainer 32. form stops are carried by the retainer thereby preventing movement of the jaws around the retainer, considering this movement as circumferential with respect to the retainer. An inwardly bent portion 44 is provided in each strip a number of cams of. unequal size form the inner surfaces of the jaws,

' operating plate is disposed in'the chamber 20 and is carried by the inner end of the rod 24. It is maintanined in place by any suitable means such as the nut 51' which is disposed on the threaded end portion of the shank 24 engaging the said plate 54'. The plate in turn may have a threaded aperture so it too will be threaded on the shank 24. A number of apertures (Figure 7) 56 are provided in the operating plate 54, one aperture. being provided to accommodate each cam 46 and each extension 48 on the jaws.

As disclosed in'Figure the cams 46 are disposed inthe apertures 56 when the plunger 24 is in the full down position. Hence, substantial pivotal movement of the jaws is precluded. Springs 58 are attached to eachstrip and are held in place by means of the strengthening strips 60. The ends of the springs 58 are disposed in the chamber 2 and press against the inner surface of theouter cylinder or sleeve l6. Accordingly, thesprings 58 which are of light resiliency andweight gently urge the jaws inwardly into [clamping'contact with abottle neck.

In operation the handle 26 is lifted thereby lifting the operating. plate 54. .Hence, since the cam 45 on each jaw is passed (thick portion thereof) the jaws are free to move pivotally a limited amount. A bottlev or other type of container neck may thenbe easily inserted in the throat or bottle receiving opening. The usual operation will be simply placing the container lifter and holder on'the neck of the bottle. Then, by releasing the handle 26, the spring 28 pulls the operating plate downwardly so that the apertainer are disposed between the undulat ons Small rings 42 which c 4 thereby precluding the possibility of the bottle falling out. To release the container 70 from the jaws it is only necessary to repeat this op eration.

Means for preventing the tendency of rotation of the rod 24 is provided. Various means may be provided for this purpose however, due to the passage structure 22, it has been found desirable to use a pair of stay rods 1'2 which are carried by the handle 26 and which pass through suitable passages in the block i2. These rods are attached at one end to the handle 26 and at the other end to the operating plate 36, as disclosed in Figure 2.

While there has been described and shown but the preferred form of the invention, it is apparent that variations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A' container lifter and holder comprising a frame which includes a block having a passage therethrough, a retainer, means fixing said retainer at a position spaced from said block forming a throat for receiving a part of a container, jaws pivoted at their ends to said retainer, and means extending through said passage for releasably locking said jaws in a predetermined position with respect to each other, said locking means including a rod, an operating member secured to said rod and having apertures therein, and cams carried by said jaws and disposed in said apertures imparting pivotal movement to said jaws when said member is motivated.

2. A container lifter and holder comprising a frame which includes a block having a passage therethrough, a retainer, means fixing said retainer at a position spaced from said block forming a throat for receiving a part of a container,

jaws pivoted at their ends to said retainer, and means extending through said passage for releasably locking said jaws in a predetermined position with respect to each other, said locking meansincluding a rod, an operating member secured to said rod and having apertures therein, cams carried by said jaws and disposed in said apertures imparting pivotal movement to said jaws when said member is motivated, and a spring reacting on said operating member and said block opposing the operation of said rod.

3. A container lifter and holder comprising a frame which includes a block having a passage therethrough, a retainer, means fixing said retainer at a position spaced 'from said block forming a throat for receiving a part'of a container, jaws pivoted at their ends to said retainer, and means extending through said passage for releasably locking said jaws in a predetermined position with respect to each other, said locking means including a rod, an operating member secured to said rod and having apertures therein, cams carried by said jaws and disposed in said apertures imparting pivotal movement to said jaws when said member is motivated, a spring reacting on said operating member and said block opposing the operation of said rod, and handles secured to said rod and said block disposed adjacent each other.

4. A container lifter and holder comprising a frame having an opening adapted to receive a part of a container, jaws pivoted to the outer end of said frame and movable in said opening, and means carried by said frame for locking said jaws in a container holding position including a rod movably carried by said frame, an operating member operatively connected with said rod and having apertures therein, and cams secured to said jaws and disposed in said apertures when said operating member is actuated to pivotally operate said jaws.

5. A container lifter and holder comprising a frame having an opening adapted to receive a part of a container, jaws pivoted to the outer end of said frame and movable in said opening, and means carried by said frame for locking said jaws in a container holding position including a rod movably carried by said frame, an operating member operatively connected with said rod and having apertures therein, cams secured to said jaws and disposed in said apertures when said operating member is actuated to pivotally operate said jaws, undulations on the inner surfaces of said jaws, and a spring carried by said frame opposing the operation of said operating member.

6. A container lifter and holder comprising a frame having an opening adapted to receive a part of a container, jaws pivoted to the outer end of said frame and movable in said opening, and means carried by said frame for locking said jaws in a container holding position including a rod movably carried by said frame, an operating member operatively connected with said rod and having apertures therein, cams secured to said jaws and disposed in said apertures when said operating member is actuated to pivotally operate said jaws, and handles carried by said rod and said frame respectively in nested relationship so that the rod carried by said frame for locking said jaws in a container holding position including a rod movably carried by said frame, an operating member operatively connected with said rod and having apertures therein, cams secured to said jaws and disposed in said apertures when said operating member is actuated to pivotaliy operate said jaws, and resilient means secured to each of said jaws and reacting on said frame opposing pivotal movement of said jaws.

WARREN H. MERCER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,566,530 McClease Oct. 6, 1925 1,772,437 Henderson Aug. 5, 1930 2,140,314 Doscher Dec. 13, 1938 2,417,775 Mullen Mar. 18, 1947 

